Boat trailers



Aug. 25, 1959 Filed Jan. 16, 1959 F. B. WHALEN BOAT TRAILERS 3 sheets-sheetl INVENTOR Frank B. Who/en ATTORNEYS Aug. 25, 1959 Filed Jan.16 1959 F. B. WHALEN 2,901,138

BOAT TRAILERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR Fig. 4

- Frank 52 Who/en ATTORNEYS Aug. 25, 1959 F. B. WHALEN BOAT TRAILERSFiled Jan. 16, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheefi 3 INVENTOR Frank B. Wha/en ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent BOAT TRAILERS Frank B. Whalen, Dallas, Tex.,assignor to Lone Star goat Company, Grand Prairie, Tex., a corporationof exas Application January 16, 1959, Serial No. 787,161 8 Claims. (Cl.214-506) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in boattrailers.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved boat trailerhaving means for supporting a boat by engagement with its hull, certainof the supporting means being mounted for movement into and out ofengagement with the hull to facilitate loading and unloading of the boatas well as transporting thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved boat trailerhaving a tiltable frame pivotally attached to a tongue and carryingbolsters and rollers for supporting engagement with the hull of a boat,the bolsters being pivotal relative to the frame and having connectionwith latch means which fastens the tongue and frame against relativemovement and which, when released to permit pivotal movement of saidframe, moves said bolsters out of engagement with the boat hull.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved boattrailer, of the character described, wherein the bolsters are pivotallysupported by a rotatable member pivotally connected by a link to thelatch means for rocking movement upon actuation of said latch means toswing said bolsters into and out of supporting engagement with the boathull.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a boat trailer constructed in accordancewith the invention and supporting a boat shown in broken lines,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the trailer,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the trailer and boat,

Fig. 4 is a view, similar to Fig. 3, with the frame of the trailertilted and its bolsters lowered for loading and unloading the boat,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken onthe line 55 of Fig. 2, showing the pivotal mounting of one of thebolsters,

Fig. 6. is a view, similar to Fig. 5, showing the bolster in its lowerposition,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, bottom plan view of the latch for fastening theframe and tongue of the trailer against rela tive movement,

Fig. 8 is a view, released, and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the latch, its handle and connection toone of the bolsters.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the frame of a trailer fortransporting and launching small boats and includes a pair of elongated,horizontal, main frame members, bars or channels 11 extendinglongitudinally of the frame and connected in parallel, spacedrelationship by horizontal, parallel, cross bars or channel memberssimilar to Fig. 7, showing the latch 2,901,138 Patented Aug. 25, 195912, 13 and 14. Preferably, the webs of the members 11, 12, 13 and 14 aredisposed uprightly with the flanges of said members 11 extendinginwardly and the flanges of the other members extending forwardly of theframe. The front end portions of the frame members 11 are bent inwardlyupon themselves immediately forward of the front cross bar 12 to providea pair of converging legs 15. A pair of parallel, spaced channel membersor bars 16 extend longitudinally from the medial portion of the frontcross bar and have their front ends disposed between and secured to thefront ends of the forwardlyconverging legs 15. For connecting the frontends of the bars 16 in spaced relationship, as well as the legs, anoverlying bridge 17 is secured to said front ends and is of channel orU-shape in cross-section. The bars 16 have their flanges directedoutwardly and coact with the bridge 17 and each other to provide alongitudinal, medial, tongue-receiving groove or recess 18 therebetween.A pair of diagonal brace members or bars 19 extend from the framemembers adjacent the intermediate cross bar 13 to the medial portion ofthe front cross bar 12.

An axle 20, having a pair of ground wheels 21, is disposed forwardly ofand below the intermediate cross bar 13 and is suspended from the framemembers 11 by leaf spring assemblies 22 having front and rear hangers 23and 24 depending from the exteriors of said members. The webs of theframe members have a multiplicity of openings 25 to permit movement ofthe hangers 23 and 24 forwardly and rearwardly of the frame andadjustment of the position of the axle 20 longitudinally of the frame.If desired, suitable fenders 26 for the wheels 21 may be suspended bybrackets 27 from the members 11. It is noted that the rear cross bar 14connects the rear ends of the frame members.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 7 and 8, an elongated tongue orlongitudinal member 28 has its rear portion disposed in the frontportion of the recess 18 and its rear extremity pivotally connected tothe webs of the bars 16 by a horizontal, transverse bolt and nut orpivot pin 29. Preferably, a suitable tubular bearing 29 is carried bythe tongue for receiving the pin 29. The tongue 28 underlies the bridge17 and is adapted to engage said bridge when the frame and tongue are inalinement (Fig. 3). A short chain 30 connects one of the legs 15 to thetongue for limiting the rearward tilting or pivotal movement of theframe relative to said tongue. In addition to a tow hitch 31 and foot 32on its front extremity, the tongue includes an upwardly and rearwardlyinclined bow bumper element 33 having a winch 34 and a grooved roller 35mounted on its upper end portion. Grooved keel rollers 36 overlie andare mounted on the tongue and bars 16 adjacent and forwardly of thebridge 17 and immediately behind the rear extremity of said tongue bysuitable brackets 37. The medial portions of the cross bars 12, 13 and14 carry similar keel rollers 38 which are adjustably mounted bybrackets 39 and which are adapted to coact with the rollers 35 and 36for supporting a boat, such as shown by the broken lines B in Figs. 1, 3and 4.

For locking the tongue 28 in alinement with the frame 10 and in parallelrelation to the bars 16, a latch assembly 40 is provided and includes alocking element or fiat arm 41 having its medial portion pivotallyattached at 42 to one of the frame legs 15 adjacent the bridge 17 inunderlying relation to said tongue and bars 16 (Figs. 7 and 8). Thelocking arm 41 is of such length that one of its end portions may extendinwardly from its pivot point 42 to a point adjacent the other leg. Anangular latch element or keeper 43 is welded or otherwise secured to theunderside of the latter leg and extends rearwardly therefrom beneath andin spaced relation to the adjacent bar 16 for receiving the inner end ofthe locking arm. Manifestly, the frame is prevented from tiltingrearwardly and is held in alinement with the tongue when the locking armis engaged with its keeper 43. As shown most clearly in Fig. 9, theouter end of the arm 41 is pivotally connected at 44 to one end of alink 45 which has its other end pivoted at 46 to the inner-end of anelongated, fiat bar or handle 47. One or more openings-48 are formed inthe medial portion of the handle 47 for receiving a pivot pin or bolt 49to pivotally connect said handle to the front end of an elongated link50 which extends longitudinally of the frame and which may be in theform of an angle bar. Since the locking arm is attached to the frame at42, said arm is pivoted into engagement with the keeper 43 upon inwardor forward swinging of the handle and out of engagement with said keeperupon outward or rearward swinging of saidhandle. This movement of thehandle 47 causes longitudinal reciprocation of the link 50 and actuationof'a bolster assembly 51.

A pairof stern rollers 52 is adjustably mounted on the rear crossbar 14by upstanding brackets 53 for coacting with the keel rollers,particularly the rollers 38, to facilitate loading and unloading of theboat B. As shown, and dependent upon the boat contour, the stern rollers52 may project above the keel rollers and are disposed adjacent theframe members 11. The bolster assembly 51 is adapted to lift the sternportion ofthe boat out of engagement with the rollers 52 and one or moreof the rollers 38 and/or relieve and distribute the weight carried bysaid rollers for supporting said boat (Fig. 3). When it is desired toload or unload the boat, the bolster assembly is lowered to permitengagement of the rollers 38 and 52 by the keel and hull of said boat.The assembly 51 includes a tubular member or tube 54, which may berectangular in cross-section, extending transversely between the framemembers and having a trunnion or pivot pin 55 secured in and projectingfrom each end thereof. As shown in Fig. 6, U-shaped bearings 56 areconfined between the flanges of the frame members and have the pivotpins 55 journaled therein for rotatably supporting the tube 54. The link50 has its rear end pivotally connected at 57 to an apertured ear or lug58 depending from the medial portion of the tube whereby said tube isrocked about its longitudinal axis upon receiprocation of said link.

An upstanding bracket 59, which may be hat-shaped in cross-section, isadjustably secured to the rear surface of each end portion of the tube54 by bolts or other fasteners 60 and has a bifurcated upper portion 61extending above the frame members 11 (Figs. and 6). The brackets 59 aredisposed inwardly of the stern rollers 52 and havelongitudinally-extending bolsters or hull-engaging elements 62 pivotallyattached at 63-to the upper extremities of their bifurcated portions 61.In order to permit longitudinal adjustment of the bolsters 62, severalopenings 64 may be formed in the intermediate portion of each bolster.As shown in Fig. 2, the bolsters extend rearwardly beyond the frame andmay have their front ends terminating short of the cross bar 13.Suitable cushioning material 65 may overlie the upper surfaces of thebolsters. In order to limit counter-clockwise or forward pivoting of thebolster assembly 51, a lug or stop 66 is secured to the front surface ofeach bearing 56 and projects inwardly therefrom contiguous the upperflange of each frame member 11 for engagement by the front surface ofthe tube 54. As a result, the brackets 59 are prevented from swingingpast the perpendicular position shown in Fig. 5. Due

to the pivotal mounting of the bolsters 62 at 63, said bolstersare freeto pivot relative to the brackets 59 and to each other and may swingdownwardly and rearwardly to facilitate initial loading and terminalunloading of the boat. It is noted that the bolsters are disposed abovethe stern rollers 52 when the tongue 28 is locked in alinement with theframe by the latch assembly 40 and are pivoted to a position below saidrollers when said assem bly is released or unlocked.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof andvarious changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in thedetails of the illustrated construction may bemade, within the scope ofthe appended claims, Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A boat trailer including a frame, a tongue pivotally attached to thefront portion of the frame, latch means for fastening the tongue andframe against relative movement, boat supporting means on said frame,and boat engaging means mounted on said frame for movement into and outof engagement with a boat resting upon the boat supporting means, thelatch means having connection with the boat engaging means for impartingmovement thereto upon fastening and unfastening of said latch means.

2. A boat trailer as set forth in claim 1 wherein the boat supportingmeans includes rollers, the boat engaging means including a pair ofspaced elements.

3. A boat trailer as set forth in claim 1 wherein the boat engagingmeans is pivotally mounted on the frame, and link means connecting saidmeans to the latch means.

4. A boat trailer as set forth in claim 3 wherein the boat engagingmeans includes a pair of spaced elements, and upright brackets pivotallyconnecting the elements to the frame.

5. A boat trailer including a tiltable frame, a tongue pivotallyattached to the front portion of the frame, a latch for fastening thetongue and frame against relative movement, boat supporting rollers onthe frame, bolsters extending longitudinally of said frame forengagement with a boat supported by the rollers, means pivotallymounting the bolsters on said frame for movement into and out ofengagement with the boat, and a link connecting the mounting means tothe latch for pivoting said bolsters upon fastening and unfastening ofsaid latch.

6. A boat trailer as set forth in claim 5 wherein the bolster mountingmeans includes a cross member rotatably mounted on the frame andconnected to the link, and upright brackets connecting the bolsters tothe cross member.

7. A boat trailer as set forth in claim 6 wherein one of the brackets issecured to each end portion of the cross member, one of the bolstersbeing pivotally attached to each bracket for movement relative theretoand to each other.

8. A boat trailer as set forth in claim 5 wherein the frame includes apair of spaced longitudinal members at its front portion having aportion of the tongue disposed therebetween, means pivotally attachingthe rear end of said tongue to the members for movement aboutahorizontal axis, the latch means including an arm underlying andpivotally supported by the front portion of said frame for movementabout an upright axis and into and out of underlying relation to saidmembers and tongue.

No references cited.

